Chasing the Symphony

15

R18

Read at your own risk.

Nagising nalang ako sa sinag ng araw na nagmumula sa bintana. Halos nakapikit pa ang mata ko ng bumangon. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit ng ulo ko na siyang dahilan para mapayuko ako mula sa pagkakaupo sa kama.


"Shit!" Daing ko habang nakahawak sa sintido ko. Napatingin naman ako sa orasan na nasa harap ko. Alas diyes na ng umaga. Napalinga-linga pa ako sa paligid ng buong kwarto ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano na ang nangyare pagkatapos akong ihatid ni kiro.



Dahan-dahan pa ang pagbangon ko mula sa kama at pumunta sa cr upang maghilamos. Pagkarating ko nga sa cr ay kaagad akong napatingin sa salamin upang tingnan ang itchura ko. Nagtataka pa akong tumingin sa salamin at sa sarili ko. Nakapag palit na din ako ng damit. Siguro ay si mommy ang nagpalit sa akin.


Pagkabalik ko mula sa cr. Kaagad kong hinanap ang cellphone ko. Hinanap ko din 'yon sa kama ko noong hindi ko makita ay tiningnan ko naman sa bag na dala ko kagabi at doon ko nga nakita 'yon.


Pagkabukas ko nga ng phone screen ko ay kaagad kong nakita ang mga message sa akin nila. Daya at Lovie.


From: Daya

Girl, nakauwi kana ba? Sorry, hindi na tayo sabay-sabay nakauwi. Sobrang lasing na din ako last night.


Pagkabasa ko ng chat ni daya ay kaagad naman akong nag reply.


To: Daya

It's okay, nakauwi na ako. Kiro drove me home.


Pagkatapos kong mag reply ay kaagad akong napahiga sa kama at napatingin sa kisame.


"Great! You did a lot of sh*t last night! Good job, Chiara!" Sarcastic kong sabi sa sarili.



Muli kong kinuha ang cellphone ko mula sa tabi ko. Kaagad akong nagpunta sa convo namin ni kiro upang nag message sa kanya.



To: K_O99

Hi! Love, good morning! I'm sorry about last night...


Pagka message ko kay kiro ay kaagad akong napabalik ng upo mula sa kama. Nakatulala lang ako habang nakatingin sa pintuan ng kwarto ko.


My phone vibrated. Kaya naman kinuha ko 'yon at tiningnan ang nakalagay sa screen. Nakita ko naman ang pangalan ni kiro mula sa screen at tumatawag.


"Hello! Love." Nakangiting bati ko. Halos lamunin na ako ng hiya ko ng tingnan ang mukha ni kiro na nakangiti sa akin. "Hi! Silly drunk!" Pag bati niya sa akin na may kasama pa na pang aasar.



"Ehh... ano ba 'yan?!" Naiinis kong sabi. Tumawa naman siya. Nasa sasakyan siya habang nag da-drive, kaya naman kahit kausap ko siya ay sa nasa daan ang tingin niya.



"Love, did you know that you did show a lot of personality last night?" Natatawa niyang sabi. Nagtataka naman akong tumingin sa kanya. "Huh? Parang hindi naman." Sagot ko. Umiling siya at sandaling tumingin sa akin.


"You became so affectionate to me last night, and then suddenly you were crying, and out of nowhere you were mad at me," he said. He was laughing and shaking his head. I was confused, looking at him. "I didn't remember doing that! I just remember I was so kind to you," I said defensively. "Yeah, you didn't remember everything because you passed out." I closed my eyes hardly after he said everything I did.



"Did I make things hard for you last night?" I asked. Feeling guilty. Kiro looked at me for a second before answering. "No, I had fun last night. Because you're hilarious," he said as if he remembered something.



"Stop laughing!" I said, trying to stop him from laughing. He looks tired. And it made me feel worse. "I'm sorry," I said. Kiro looked at me, frowning. "Why do you keep saying sorry?" he asked. "Because I know you're tired, yet you had to fetch me last night, and I made a scene," I said.



Napabuntong hininga si kiro saka tumingin sa akin. "It's okay, it happened sometimes, and you don't have to feel guilty about that, and you know what? I had fun watching you turn into this kind of different personality. I never saw this kind of version of you, and I'm glad I did," he said. he smiled at me so widely.



"Aww," I said. I almost cried.



"Because you were crazy," he said, laughing so hard. My tears flew back to my eyes after he said that to me.



"Nakakainis, hirap talaga kapag sa online. Hindi ko masakal." Nakangiting sabi ko. Iniiwasan kong ipikita sa kanya na nag-enjoy din ako sa pang aasar na ginagawa niya sa akin.



"But, love, seriously, you need to talk to your mom," he said. I look at him confusingly. "Why?" I nervously asked. "She looks so mad. You were crying to her. Asking for a baby sister." Kiro's laugh became so loud to the point that his voice was the only thing I could hear inside my room.



"Y-you mean I asked my mom for a sister?!" I asked. Kiro nodded his head. "Yeah, and your mom keeps saying sorry to me. She said I should forget seeing you that way. I think she's trying to disown you. after seeing your different personality." I cover my mouth with my hand because of the shock.



"No, you're just kidding," I said, shaking my head. I was so defensive about it. Because how can I ask my mom for a baby sister when I'm already twenty-two? Parang anak ko nalang 'yun."


"I'm not; you really need to asked her. You can confirm it to your mom. And see if I am really kidding," Kiro said. My mind slipped for a moment, trying to remember if I had indeed asked my mom for a baby sister.



"Did I do something aside from that?" I asked.



"Did something happen? Like doing crazy things?" he said. Teasing me, "Wala na," he added. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako sa relief. Kasi kung may ginawa pa ako aside from my kabaliwan, I don't even know what to do anymore.


"By the way, love, I'm going to school. I will just pass all of my projects." Napabalik naman ako ng tingin sa cellphone ko. "Do you want to have a launch with me?" I said. Napatingin naman ako sa wall clock. It's already ten thirty a.m.


Napabuntong hininga naman na tumingin sa akin si Kiro. "I want to, but I can't. I still have things to finish by this afternoon after I pass this," Kiro answered.


"Okiee, but can I visit you later?" I asked hopefully. Kiro looked at his wristwatch, then looked at me after. "Yes, you can; I think by two." I smiled happily.


"Thank you so much, love!" I said. Kiro smiled at me through the phone. "See you later!" He said.


"See you! Ingat sa pagda-drive. Love you!" I happily said before ending the call.


After Kiro and I talked, I walked down from the second floor, and I didn't see anyone. I guess it was me and me again in the house. Alone. I just laughed to myself after realizing that somehow that was the reason why I asked my mom for a baby sister. It felt lonely here.


I just prepared for my late breakfast. I made a toast with an avocado egg and a matcha drink. After I ate, I did a lot of chores. Cleaning the house and washing the dishes. I even clean my room after doing chores in the living room. After all the things I did inside the house, I started to prepare the things I would wear to Kiro's unit.


It's already one thirty PM when Kiro picks me up at the mall. It was near his unit. "Hi! Love!" I said. I hugged him when he came out of his car. We were inside the parking lot. He hugged me back. We both look at each other, trying not to laugh. "Don't even start," I warned.


"Okay, I will not," he reassures, but the expressions on his face are so evident that he wants to laugh at me the moment he sees me. I guess that's the impression I had when I was drunk last night.



"Let's go inside." Pag aaya niya. He even cupped my hand in his hand. We're holding hands now. "You didn't have a hangover?" He asked as we walked. "No, just a mild headache," I said.


Noong nasa loob na kami ng mall ay halos hindi na ako makawala sa pagkakahawak sa akin ni kiro. Halos hindi na mag hiwalay ang mga kamay namin. "Saan tayo?" Tanong niya.


"Kain muna tayo." Pagpapa cute ko pa sa kanya. Nahagya naman siyang tumawa at tumango. "Sige, kakain tayo." Sagot niya. Masaya naman akong ngumiti sa kanya.


"Grilled." Sabi ko. Kahit pa alam ko naman na hindi siya mahilig sa grilled.


"Bu——" aangal pa sana siya ng takpan ko na ang bibig niya. "No more saying 'carcinogens are bad for your health." I cut him. He laughs at the fact that my hands are still in his mouth.


I removed my hand from his mouth, and then I started to walk.


Pagkarating namin doon ay halos madaming tao ang nakapila. Hindi pa man kami nakakarating ay halos ma discourage na ako. Wala kasi talaga akong patience sa paghihintay sa pila.



"You look discouraged." Simpleng komento ni kiro. Napatingin naman ako sa gawi niya at napairap. "Pipila tayo." Simple wika ko. Saka ako nagpunta sa pinaka dulo ng pila. Habang nakapila nga kami ni kiro ay pinagmamasdan lang namin ang mga tao sa unahan. Nag uusap-usap kami ng tungkol sa mga ginawa niya at may mga pasimple pa siyang pang aasar na ginagawa sa akin.



"Let's take a photo," I suggested. Napatingin naman si kiro sa akin. "Here?" Tanong niya. Napatango naman ako at inilabas naman niya ang phone niya. Ako ang may hawak ng phone niya at nag picture lang kami doon. Naka ilang take pa kami ng kuha ng photo hanggang sa may nagustuhan ako. 'Yon ang photo na nakahawak ako sa biceps niya habang nakaharap sa amin pareho ang camera. Isa-isa ko naman, 'yong tiningnan sa camera niya. Nagtataka pa akong tumingin sa mga pictures niya.


Bukod kasi sa mga picture namin ay nakita ko din ang mga pictures na kuha na parang sa Microsoft. "Love, what is this?" I asked. Pinakita ko naman sa kanya ang isang sample sa Microsoft na nasa gallery niya.


Tiningnan naman niya 'yon at napangiti. I don't know why he smiled looking at it. "Do you see this little tiny thing?" Kiro zoomed out the screen of his phone to show me what he was talking about. Medyo confused ako sa pinakita niya sa akin.


"This is the head," he explained. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. "What is that?" Tanong Ko asked. "Taenia Solidium." Nagtataka naman ako na tumingin sa kanya. "Ano yun?" Sunod na tanong ko.


"Its basically a parasite. Pork tapeworm to be precise." Napangiwi naman ako sa sagot ni kiro. I can't imagine. I mean... Worm? Inside your body?!



"You look so scared," he said. Laughing. Kinuha naman ni kiro ang phone niya at saka 'yon itinago sa bulsa niya.


"It's our turn. Order na tayo ng pork." Kiro smirked after saying the word "pork.". Luto naman yung kakainin namin, so I'm sure safe pa naman kami.


Noong naka order na kami ni kiro ay naghanap lang kami ng table. Madali lang din naman kami nakahanap. Habang nag hihintay nga kami ng in-order namin ay halos puro about medical field ang pinag uusapan namin ni kiro. He even told me the story of why Jigs chose to shift.


"Our first year was the worst. There's a time that we even had to ask a stranger for a stool, and jigs can't even stand the smell, and that's the main reason why he wanted to shift; he just can't stand the smell." I can't help but laugh at Kiro's story. "And also, all our conversation was like this: "Uy! Pahingi tae." Mas lalo naman akong natawa sa way ng pag ku-kwento ni kiro. He looked serious and as if it were a normal thing to him. Well, not for me! Hindi naman ako med tech. Kaya naman natatawa ako.



"I can't imagine how I survived those things! It was like an asylum," Kiro said. Tango-tango nalang ang iginagawad ko sa kanya habang pinakikinggan siyang mag-kwento. Hindi pa nga tapos sa pagku-kwento si kiro ay dumating na din ang in-order namin.


Baby back ribs ang pareho namin order ni kiro.


Noong matapos kaming kumain ay naisipan naman namin pumunta sa arcade. Mga ilang minuto lang kami doon. Hindi naman ako kasi masyadong marunong maglaro doon kaya sa may shooting ball nalang kami naglaro. Halos ipasok ko na ang sarili ko sa loob kung saan may ring para lang maka shoot. Hirap na hirap, kasi akong ihagis ang bola.


"Calm down, kaya mo yan." Pang aasar na sabi ni kiro. Hinawakan niya pa ako sa balikat at inalalayan sa pagbato ng bola. Tuwang-tuwa naman ako, noong makashoot na ako. Malapit na kasi maubos ang time ko at apat palang ang nag shoot ko. Sayang din ang ticket.


Pagtapos namin mag arcade ni kiro ang next naman namin na pinuntahan ang national bookstore. Habang pumipili nga kami ng bibilhin ni kiro ay may nakita pa akong book. Kaya naman kinuha ko'yon. Si kiro naman ay halos mga highlighter ang mga pinamili niya.



"Here's yours." May inabot naman sa akin si kiro na mga highlighter. "Is this for me? "I asked. Tumango naman siya. "We can buy that. So that we have the same highlighter." Napangiti naman ako ng sobra dahil doon. "Aww.. Thank you! "I said. I kissed him on his checks.



Pagkatapos namin mag-bayad ni kiro ay bumalik na din kami sa parking lot. Papunta na kami sa unit niya. Habang nasa sasakyan nga kami ay nakikinig din kami ng music mula sa speaker.


'Blue Sky' by Hale ang tumutugtog sa speaker. Habang nasa passenger seat nga ako ay tuwang-tuwa ako na pinagma-masdan si kiro na sumasabay sa kanta. He has a great voice.



"Love, where did you get your talent? "Tanong ko. Napatingin naman sa akin si kiro habang nag-da-drive. "I don't know; I don't even hear my parents sing, so I don't know where I get the urge to sing. Maybe.. Was it just me? "Sagot niya.



"Maybe.. sa grandfather mo? "I said. Napailing naman si kiro. "I don't think so; I heard my grandfather sing, and I'm telling you. He's good at making money, but he's not a good singer." Bahagya naman akong natawa sa sinabi ni kiro.


"Ay! Ang sama! "Sabi ko sa kanya. Natawa naman siya. "Oo nga! Sige next time. Yayain natin si Lolo na kumanta. Pustahan pa tayo." tango nalang ako sa sinabi ni kiro. "Sige lang." natatawa na sabi ko.



Pagkarating naman namin sa unit ni kiro ay inayos lang niya ang mga pinagbibili niya. "Wow! So tidy! "I commented. Napangiti naman si kiro habang nasa may sala kami. Habang naka-upo nga ako ay muli kong pinag-mamasdan ang kabuoan ng unit ni kiro. Pangalawang beses ko na dito, pero amaze na amaze pa din ako sa interior at laki ng unit.


"Wait me here, love; I'll just change." Tumango naman ako. Umakyat na si kiro mula sa second floor sa room niya upang magpalit. Binuksan ko lang ang TV at nanood ng balita.